The Dearborn, Mich., native won the Stanley Cup with New Jersey in 2000 and 2003, and again in 2008 with the Red Wings. He won a silver medal in 2002 and 2010 as a member of the United States Olympic team.

Rafalski is a spiritual adviser for the Everblades who holds chapel for the players, the newspaper said.

"He did a really good job for us, and we're grateful to have him for those games," coach Greg Poss said. "He's a really good person to have around the team.

"He was battling back to get in shape, but at the same time, when you get injured like that, it's hard to get in shape. You're fighting an uphill battle. It's just hard to play pro sports at 40."

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I don't have a crystal ball. Predicting is a real complicated thing. If we stay healthy, have enough depth and get the good goaltending we think we're going to have, you can go all the way. But a lot of things have to happen. There's going to be a lot of teams that think the same thing. Everyone made deals. We're all are optimistic about where we'll end up.

— Rangers general manager Glen Sather after being asked if he's constructed a team that can win the Stanley Cup before their 4-1 win against the Predators on Monday